Influenza A viruses encode several accessory proteins that have host- and strainspecific effects on virulence and replication. The accessory protein PA-X is expressed due to a ribosomal frameshift during translation of the PA gene. Depending on the particular combination of virus strain and host species, PA-X has been described as either acting to reduce or increase virulence and/or virus replication. In this study, we set out to investigate the role PA-X plays in H9N2 avian influenza viruses, focussing on the natural avian host, chickens. We found that the G1 lineage A/chicken/Pakistan/UDL-01/2008 (H9N2) PA-X induced robust host shutoff in both mammalian and avian cells and increased virus replication in mammalian, but not avian cells. We further showed that PA-X affected embryonic lethality in ovo and led to more rapid viral shedding and widespread organ dissemination in vivo in chickens. Overall, we conclude PA-X may act as a virulence factor for H9N2 viruses in chickens, allowing faster replication and wider organ tropism.
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PA-X is an avian virulence factor in H9N2 avian influenza virus
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Contributors:
Clements A L, Peacock T P, Sealy J E, Lee H M, Hussain S, Sadeyen J-R, Shelton H, Digard P, Iqbal M
Year: 2021
Citation: Journal of General Virology 102 (3), 1531
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